NJ Star Ledger's Prediction

Here's Clay's birthday horoscope from the Newark Star Ledger.

From the CB's lsdollylovesclay:

There's a small picture and Clay mention in the Your Stars Celebrity Profile section of the The Newark Star Ledger.
It reads:

"American Idol" runnerup Clay Aiken has taken second place to new heights with his multi-platinum career. I predict another chart-topping record in 2006, and Aiken could also parlay his showbiz ambitions into the film world with a cameo appearance in a block buster . The job comes through channels so random that Aiken can only chalk it up to luck. But such is the Sagittarian way of life!

My good Clay buddy, JNLPRECIOUSCLAY, who sent me the information, says the picture is small and looks like it's from the fashion show shoot.

Let's hope the predictions are true!!

Jay Leno Mention 11/25

Negative mention about Clay on last night's Leno.

From the CB:

Last night during the opening dialogue Jay said "Clay Aiken, reportedly hired his hair dresser to be a back up dancer on his tour, well now that should clear up all the rumors"

A little confused as to what that means but just thought I'd share it...

Solitaire Cover Mentioned In Neil Sedeka Article

Clay's cover of Solitaire, Neil Sedeka's classic 70's song was mentioned in this article posted by Scripps Howard News Service (this article will be syndicated through the news service's various affiliates)

Sedaka still singing
And other artists are scoring big hits with his songs
By Wayne Bledsoe
Scripps Howard News Service

Neil Sedaka is best-known for his hits from the late 1950s and early '60s – and his comeback in the mid-1970s. But, while the only radio airwaves that his voice is currently gracing are oldies stations', Sedaka's songs continue to find new life.
Clay Aiken recently revived Sedaka's song "Solitaire."A 1971 Tony Christie recording of Sedaka's "Amarillo"was recently revived to become a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom. A new musical comedy called "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: The Neil Sedaka Musical"recently closed after two months of sold-out performances in Albany, N.Y., and a new production of the play is scheduled to open in Coral Gables, Fla., in early 2006.

One thing that bothers Sedaka is that his music is referred to as "bubblegum music."
"I find that very offensive,"he says in a telephone call. "I thought my songs were a step above that. I thought my singing was a step above."

Sedaka was, in fact, training as a classical pianist long before he was a singer or a songwriter. The son of a New York taxi driver and a housewife, Sedaka was enrolled in piano studies at the Juilliard School of Music at age 8. His non-classical experience began when he was 13.

"Howard Greenfield was a 19-year-old poet,"Sedaka says. "His mother (Sedaka's neighbor) had heard me playing classical piano downstairs. One day she knocked on the door and when I opened it she said, 'Did I want to write songs with her son?'

"I had no idea how to write pop songs!"

Sedaka and Greenfield soon learned together.

In 1958, Connie Francis recorded the Sedaka-Greenfield number "Stupid Cupid"and had a hit. (The duo's "Where the Boys Are"was another Francis hit two years later.) It was also 1958 when Sedaka signed a recording contract with RCA and began an eight-year string of his own hits that included "Calendar Girl,""Stairway to Heaven,""Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen,""Next Door to An Angel"and "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."

Sedaka says a doctor once told him that one of his vocal cords is slightly paralyzed, which might be the key to his distinctive sound.

"I can go in a taxicab and the driver won't even turn around and he'll say, 'You're Neil Sedaka. I can tell by your voice,'"Sedaka says.

By the mid-1960s, Sedaka's style was out of vogue in the United States, but continued to sell in Europe. In 1973, Sedaka fan Elton John signed the pop icon to his Rocket Records. The resulting album, "Sedaka's Back,"contained "Laughter in the Rain"– a song that would become Sedaka's first No. 1 hit in the United States since 1962.

"I wanted it vehemently,"Sedaka says. "I had heard Carole King's 'Tapestry,' and I said, 'I could do that.'"

Suddenly, it seemed as if he was everywhere. Elton John sang backup on Sedaka's hit "Bad Blood,"which went to No. 1. The Captain and Tennille recorded the "Sedaka's Back"track "Love Will Keep Us Together"and went to No. 1. He and Phil Cody wrote English lyrics for the song "Ring Ring"by the Swedish group Abba. The Sedaka-Cody song "Solitaire"was a hit for the Carpenters in 1975 and became a pop standard.
"Elvis did 'Solitaire' very poorly,"Sedaka says. "He changed the beat and the melody. But, of course, it was an Elvis record, so I was thrilled. Sheryl Crow did it beautifully, though."

"I'd like another hit album," Sedaka says. "I still feel like there's one more in me. If Carlos Santana can do it..."

Clay Having Fun in Louisville

We now know how Clay spent his Thanksgiving in Louisville... with tour dancer Patricia Kent (and the other members of the crew). Clay's onstage interaction with Patricia has been increasing, observed Claymates at recent concerts. Read this hilarious commentary ("Denver Flirt") from LBFCA.

From Clayversity:

He didn't go home and came to Louisville directly from Chicago.

Took everyone to the movies (saw Rent) and had the whole front section roped off for him. Hooped and hollered for Patricia when she was on the screen.

Some went bowling with him. He spent Thanksgiving with his former professor, now teaching in Louisville, Dr. Priscilla Brame.

Picture: Clay with JNT dancer Patricia in Denver (courtesy Scarlett)

11/26 Update from CH's TOTLAK:

I mentioned before I left that I had found out they were here since Wednesday morning. One of our member's son works downtown in 4th Street Live area (big entertainment area). He told her Clay was down there having lunch that afternoon at Hard Rock Cafe. Don't know who all was with him. Then she got a phone call from a friend Wednesday night that he and a whole entourage of people were at a movie watching Rent---which just opened here.

Clay In New Trivial Pursuit: DVD Editon Game

Clay is in the new DVD edition of Trivial Pursuit's popular game, Pop Culture 2! Thanks to the CB's thudclayz for these scans!

The question reads: "What Olympic ice skating champ adorned her Yale dorm with photos of Prince William and Clay Aiken?". The answer was "Sarah Hughes"

Click to enlarge scans.

Vote for JNT

SouthFlorida.com has a poll currently asking "What's the best upcoming concert?". Clay's Hollywood, FL concert at the Semicole Arena @ the Hard Rock Cafe is among the options. Click here to vote.

Stream Clay on AOL

Please support Clay on AOL by streaming Clay video/audio. New additions include the Mary Did You Know video from last year's Clay Christmas special. Click here to access the AOL media page for Clay.

CNN Paula Zahn Now 11/25

Clay was briefly mentioned/shown on yesterday's edition of Paula Zahn Now.

From the CB's clayrevolution:

The whole segment was about Taylor Cross (a BAF Award receipient) and his life--it discussed how he deals with autism, his childhood, etc. His mom was on and talked about him being picked on and physically attacked in school. I didn't see the beginning of it, but it seemed like a pretty lengthy segment. The Clay clip was towards the end.

ETA: The Clay clip was just a few seconds long--no sound, just Taylor getting the award.

Clay Mentions Across The Internet Today

Here is a selection of mentions of Clay on the internet today.

New "Best of American Idol" DVD Review

Packaging 'Idol's' high and low notes
Calendar Live

"The Best Of" disc contains some of the more memorable moments, including Fantasia Barrino's "Summertime," Kelly Clarkson's "Respect" and Bo Bice's "In a Dream." It focuses primarily on the top two finalists from each season, so there's lots of Clarkson (the most successful post-"Idol" performer), Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Fantasia (she's dropped the Barrino since winning in Season 3), Diana DeGarmo, Bice and Carrie Underwood.

Another review of the same DVD

The good, bad, and inconsolable
Nov. 24, 2005. 01:00 AM
MALENE ARPE
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
Toronto Star

There are two new releases featuring compilations of American Cultural Imperialism at its very finest. One wants you to know you're a remarkable human being who can accomplish whatever you set your mind to; the other wants you to know that you suck.

The Oprah Winfrey Show: The 20th Anniversary Collection from Paramount and The Best & Worst of American Idol from Capital, are both different from your run-of-the-mill release in that the sets do not contain any actual episodes (small mercies ... ) but are more like massive collections of extras and highlights and featurettes and, importantly, people who cry a lot.

Both releases are slick and immaculately produced; both tell us uncomfortable things about the quest for fame whether shepherded by good, supportive mommy Oprah or stern, disapproving daddy Simon Cowell.

The three-disc, 9 1/2-hour Idol set, which has Paula Abdul hosting, starts out with a 15-minute overview, just in case you'd been stuck on Pluto for the past five years. The "Best of" disc is chaptered into a "Season 1, 2 and 3" section with "Here Come the Judges," "Auditions," featuring the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, "Performances" and music video thingy, "You're a Sta," as well as a very creepy Simon/Paula promo thing called "Cuddles."

Rating ***/*****

Rent movie review from Rent fans "Rent rats" -- comparing Rent fans to Claymates

A "Rent" rat rates the movie version
Denver Post
Say what you want about the film adaptation of "Rent." Pick it apart. Question the characters' motives. Pithily call the movie awkward and forced.

But unless you've seen the musical at least 10 times - a modest number by serious devotees' standards - then your argument carries only so much weight with "Rent" rats.

The beauty of the "Rent" rat is the unconditional love they - er, we - have for the musical. Like a Deadhead, a Parrothead or a Claymate (the latter being a member of the odd group of mostly middle-aged women obsessed with Clay Aiken), "Rent" rats travel with the show, wait in painfully long lines for prime seats, and are willing to forgive the musical for its cheesy indulgences, its overdramatic tendencies, its lackluster, unfinished second act.

Mention in Survivor TV Show recap:

Survivor Guatemala: Recap
Everything Is Personal
By David Mumpower and Kim Hollis
November 25, 2005

Gary Hogeboom isn't going down without a fight, though. At Tribal Council, Judd isn't content to simply vote off his mortal enemy. He wants to be sure to point out what a cheat and liar his chief competitor is before the elimination. Judd eagerly notes that Gary Hogeboom has lied, but gets in trouble when he tries to describe the "lie". Gary Hogeboom had said before that Lydia and Cindy didn't deserve to make it to the end, but he was still willing to form an alliance with them to further advance himself. In Judd World, this is a lie. Gary Hogeboom takes this opportunity to point out that in Our World, a lie is when someone says that the super duper secret immunity idol is hidden somewhere on the ground, when in fact it is hidden somewhere up high. "All right, I lied about the damned idol. Okay." says Judd. What did he say about Clay Aiken? Oh, he's going to get cards and letters!

Happy Birthday Clay!

Clay turns 27 on November 30!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAY!

Click here to leave a birthday greeting for Clay using our CDD Commenting System.

12/2: Due to the overwhelming response to this call, we are no longer promising that comments left after this time will make our printed 'birthday book' that will be delivered to Clay at the Baltimore, Camden and Raleigh concerts (we're doing it 2-3 times to make sure it gets to Clay). However, you may still use the link above to leave Clay a birthday greeting and we will include provide a link in the booklet so Clay can check out any additional birthday wishes online.

Merry Christmas With Love @ Target

Christmas is only one month away. Target has Merry Christmas With Love onsale for only $8.99! Go and get them, Claymates!

AD: Pittsburgh, PA

Clay Doesn't Mind Being Called A Nerd

Fantastic pre-concert article from the Cincinnati Post. Clay plays the Cincinnati Music Hall November 26.

Aiken here for Christmas show
By Rick Bird
Post staff reporter

Clay Aiken brings his holiday show to Music Hall on Saturday.

Go ahead. Call Clay Aiken a nerd. He won't mind.

"I'm not trying to be cool, and I don't expect to be any time soon," Aiken says with a laugh that can only be described as, well, nerdy.

The issue came up in a recent interview with the "American Idol" star, because a newspaper headline this month dubbed him a "Pop Nerd."

"I've always wanted to just be myself. So it's not an insult at all," he said about the reference. "It's a label I carry proudly."

Aiken may be the most famous second place finisher of any competition. And his geekiness obviously helped drive his fame.

On "American Idol" he narrowly lost out to Ruben Studdard in 2003, but his boyish grin, lack of pretense and choirboy voice earned the Raleigh, N.C., native millions of teen fans who launched Web sites and gobbled up a few million copies of his debut album becoming part of "Clay Nation." It was the overnight success story for the boy next door.

Aiken, 26, likes to think his self-deprecating demeanor has been the secret to his success.

"I think that's a mistake a lot of people do whether it's performing on 'Idol,' or just life - try to be something they are not, try to fool the world and make people think they are not a nerd or a geek."

For the second year in a row Aiken is out with a Christmas tour that comes to Music Hall Saturday. Called "Joyful Noise," it is more than just a concert. There are actors, dancers and special effects in a loose holiday story.

Aiken wrote the show himself.

"It became a favorite (last year) and we wanted to do it again, but the issue was how do we make it different? How do we keep it from being just a bunch of holiday songs? I wanted to try to string all the songs together with some sort of connective tissue. I thought, let's get someone to write a story line. Then I sat down one day and said, 'Wait a minute. I can do this.'"

Aiken even hired his high school choir teacher to come out and perform in the production.

Aiken and the singers play guardian angels, sort of a Greek chorus, that comment on the story through holiday songs. Aiken says it's a reverent show with part of it set in a church.

But that raises another small problem for the "Idol" star. Girls often do scream through it.

"Of course on a regular tour that's what you kind of want. When they come to this show and scream I kind of get a little bothered by it. This is a theme, where we are in church. It's like, 'Please don't scream in church,'" Aiken said.

"But some nights when they don't scream I get upset, too."

Aiken may be the perfect post 9-11 star. He's non-threatening, a true family act that parents can enjoy and don't mind if their young daughters scream at. Aiken says he's the last person to ask to explain the phenomenon.

"I hope the public is growing tired of negativity and trashiness. I am," he said. I can't say why people like me. It's flattering, but I can't really comment on that question."

Aiken released his multi-platinum selling "Measure of a Man" months after the "Idol" competition and has been almost constantly touring ever since. He also cranked out a best-selling autobiography, hosted his own Christmas TV special last year and raises money for his Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which benefits children with disabilities.

He says he's taking his time working on a new CD, carefully selecting the right songs. He acknowledges the first album came out pretty fast.

"That's the nature of the beast. There is a lot of push to get it done quickly, to get product out after the show," he said. "But I don't think it was done poorly. Had we spent more time on it maybe we could have found (material) we were happier with."

Aiken doesn't buy the argument some make that the "Idol" pop stars are rushed onto the scene, winners of a contrived event who haven't paid their "dues" in the music business.

"I felt prepared to record," he said. "I would venture to say that those of us who have been through the beast, been through that machine, have paid plenty of dues. Different dues. It was quite a boot camp really."

Aiken says he's learned what his strength is and that is as a vocal stylist, not a songwriter.

"Again, it's go with what you got and don't try to be something that your not. There is a lot of motivation these days to try and be a songwriter because it may look good or you make a lot more money that way. To be honest there are a lot of artists out there today who have their name written on the song. And the truth is they've maybe written two or three words of it. I'm not going to say I wrote a song if I didn't."

Clay Aiken brings his "Joyful Noise 2005" tour to Music Hall at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets, $69.75, $62.75, $49.75, $29.75. Ticket-master.

Clay Mentions Today

Here are a few mentions of Clay on the internet today, not worthy of a entire news posting.

The Wrath of Tito - Why is Vince McMahon getting blamed for wrestler deaths?
OK, that was the main course... here are some TIDBITS:
Same idea applies to winners of say Survivor and American Idol, with the exception of Clay Aiken (and I'm glad he's popular so that Conan O'Brien can rip on him). Who cares?

Bring Me My Figgy Pudding and While You're in There, Turn Off That Awful Racket: An Indispensible Guide to Holiday Music
There's a copious amount of holiday music out there, a plethora of the stuff released just this year - from Clay Aiken and Regis Philbin to Kenny G, Mariah Carey, and Brian Setzer, proggy symphonic abominations and snore-inducing solo piano treatments — which would be confusing, given its inherent expiration date, if our country's proclivity to spend didn't escalate at the tail end of the fourth quarter. So, as a favor to you, I'll go through the (few) highlights and (many) lowlights of the 2005 holiday album market, in hopes that I can save you from a disastrous impulse purchase in the checkout line.

Reading Eagle Article

As promised, here is the Reading Eagle's pre-concert article. Clay plays the Reading Soverign Center next week. This article is featured in the Eagle's weekly "Weekend" arts section's cover page.

Christmas Clay's way
Clay Aiken puts together a holiday showcase called "Joyful Noise" that is based on his own writing and features performers from his hometown. The end product is everything he'd wished for and more.

By Tracy Rasmussen
Reading Eagle Correspondent

As if singing, dancing and idol status weren't enough, Clay Aiken has added writing to his resume.
"I did a Christmas show last year and it was so much fun," Aiken said. "I thought I'd love to continue to do it, but I wanted to do something different."

That something different is his new "Joyful Noise" tour, which comes to the Sovereign Center in Reading on Wednesday (which happens to be Aiken's 27th birthday).

Aiken said he tried to come up with an idea that could join all the different songs he sings together, when he hit on the idea of having an older woman talk about her Christmases past with a young neighbor.

"Then I just sat in my pajamas and wrote it," he said. "I thought, Golly, I can do this. I'm not Arthur Miller, but this story works."

The story revolves around a little boy who is annoying his parents and they send him outside to get him out of their hair. He goes next door and meets one of his neighbors a woman who has recently lost her husband.

"She starts talking to him and telling him stories," she said. "And there are dancers who sort of show the back story."

Aiken sings in between and throughout the stories, pulling the show together.

"I'm sort of the guardian angel," he said.

And staying in line with the guardian angel theme, he hired his choir teacher from high school, Alison Lawrence, to play the part of the elderly woman. And since his teaching certificate is up to date he hired Gregory Ellis, a child from his hometown, to play the child in the show.

"I figured I could teach him on the road," Aiken said.

Still, he admitted to being a bit nervous about having so much input into the show.

"But it ended up being so much bigger and better than I thought," he said. "You usually have a vision in your head about what something is supposed to be and then you hope for the best, but this is everything I hoped it would be."

Although the subject matter is poignant, Aiken promises a Christmas ending.

"Everyone dies," he deadpanned. "No, really, it's a Christmas show, of course it has a happy ending."

Aiken said that for him this show portrays one of his own wishes.

"Sometimes I wish that life had a soundtrack," he said. "That's what this show is."

The show includes many of Aiken's songs from his Christmas album, "Merry Christmas With Love."

If Aiken's life did, indeed, have a soundtrack, it would likely be solid gold.

He's perhaps America's best known runner-up, as he came in second to Rueben Studdard in the second season of "American Idol."

Aiken used that notoriety to promote his first CD, "Measure of a Man," which has sold more than 600,000 copies, and he's found himself playing to sold out venues and basking in the adoration of the "Claymates" who follow him from venue to venue.

He said he's particularly looking forward to the Reading show.

"This is the first time I've ever done a show on my birthday," he said, laughing. "So I'll expect lots of presents."

Aiken has used his own gifts to help others, too. His teaching degree allowed him to work in special education, including a part-time job as an aide to a child with autism. That child's mom, Diane Bubel, convinced Aiken to audition for "American Idol." Together they now have a charity that supports children with autism.

Education is still important to him, and he keeps current with the field while traveling the country.

And he said he never imagined that his life could be as good as it is.

"Right now I'm at a friend's house in Vancouver," he said. "She lives on a cliff overlooking the bay and all I can see is water and these majestic mountains. I'm never going to expect things like this to happen."

He said that prior to "American Idol" he hadn't gone far from his Raleigh, N.C., home.

"Myrtle Beach is about as far as I had traveled," he said. "But now I've been to places like Indonesia and Uganda (as a UNICEF Ambassador)."

He will be home for Christmas, though.

"We'll be in Raleigh with the tour around Christmas," he said. "So I'll be home."

Clay Mentioned on ABC's Portland Affiliate

From the CB:

Well, PIGS ARE FLYING IN PORTLAND!!!!!! I'm sitting here at 5:45am on Thanksgiving morning catching up on e-mail before stuffing my turkey, and they had a little clip on the ABC local news about Thanksgiving being eclipsed by Christmas that seems to start earlier every year. So, they showed some stores decorated early in November etc., and what to my wondering eyes should appear but Clay singing from the Portland show, and they mentioned his name, and showed a clip or two of his show.........especially interesting because this wasn't FOX, and there was nary a peep from this station about his show........wonder where they got the video???? I hope that they show this clip again tonight for the news.....

Carrie Fails to Dethrone Clay

Carrie Underwood's new album, Some Hearts, sold 315,000 copies in the first week, well below Clay's opening bow of 613,000 back in 2003 with Measure Of A Man, reports Billboard.

How does Underwood compare to other "Idol" winners? Kelly Clarkson's "Thankful" opened at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with 297,000. Ruben Studdard's "Soulful" also debuted at No. 1 (417,000). Third-season winner Fantasia saw her "Free Yourself" glide in at No. 8 (240,000). Who has the biggest "Idol"-related haul? Second season runner-up Clay Aiken. His "Measure of a Man" bowed at No. 1 with 613,000 in its first week

About.com Humor Blog

About.com's daily humor blog mentioned Clay... Personally, I think Clay is a lot thudlier.

Celebrity Lookalikes???
The Funny Site of the Day -- Separated at birth? Sharp eyes at Cosmic Tribune have been looking for public figures' impersonators or, perhaps, those possessing an evil twin. Sure, we knew Lt. John Kerry and Pvt. Gomer Pyle were lookalikes, but Kerry and Herman Munster and Shrek's Donkey? Then there's Clay Aiken and Ed Grimley, Larry Flynt and Jabba the Hutt, (Faye Dunaway as) Joan Crawford and Michael Jackson, and numerous others. Check out this doubly indubitable photo gallery.

Clay Mention in Article About New Movie "Rent"

MOVIE: Rent
'Rent' could do with new landlord

Still, intermittently, the light bulb goes off and shines ever so brightly. An expanded version of the number "Tango: Maureen," in which budding filmmaker Mark (Anthony Rapp displaying a Clay Aiken adorability)

Clay Signed Leno Motorcycle Sold

The motorcycle Clay and 74 other celebrities signed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno has been sold for an astounding $500,000. All profits went towards the Red Cross' Hurricane Katrina fund. Clay appeared on the Tonight Show back in September to sign the motorcycle.

UNITED VAN LINES TRANSPORTS $500,000 CELEBRITY-SIGNED "TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO" HARLEY MOTORCYCLE
(PRLEAP.COM) ST. LOUIS – St. Louis got its first peek at the 2006 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, signed by more than 75 celebrities, when it was wheeled off a United Van Lines trailer at Doc's Harley-Davidson in Kirkwood, Mo. John Tlapek, a local private equity investor in St. Louis, Mo., purchased the motorcycle in an auction to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. United loaded the motorcycle in a specially designed crate and transported it from Glendale, Calif., to the Midwest for delivery to Tlapek.
Tlapek appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to pick up the keys to the motorcycle after winning it with his bid of $505,100. Proceeds from the auction went to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Fund.
Signatures on the "Tonight Show's" Harley-Davidson tour motorcycle include Billy Crystal, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Denzel Washington, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Dr. Phil, Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson, Matthew McConaughey, Geena Davis, William Shatner, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Charlie Sheen, Joaquin Phoenix, Bill Cosby, Adrien Brody, Matt LeBlanc, James Caan, Heather Locklear, Clay Aiken, Aaron Neville, Nicole Richie, Shaggy, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman and more.
United Van Lines transports electronic equipment, trade show exhibits and displays, works of art, and specialized freight, in addition to household goods. United, with headquarters located in suburban St. Louis, maintains a network of 1,000 affiliated agencies in 135 countries around the world. More information about United and its services can be obtained through the company's Web site at www.unitedvanlines.com.
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